Muffle - Blur everything except the active window

https://redd.it/1rozmyo
@macappsbackup

Unite Pro – Turn Websites Into Real Mac Apps

https://redd.it/1rp01bw
@macappsbackup

Just found TablePro, a free and open-source SQL/database client for Mac!

https://tablepro.app/


While running brew update, this popped up in the new casks list. The UI looks super clean and modern..Anyone else already tried it?

https://redd.it/1rp2si7
@macappsbackup

Blocked my Stream Deck from the internet… turns out it’s still incredibly useful

https://preview.redd.it/qr3kjiyh61og1.png?width=2796&format=png&auto=webp&s=a5a9e9fdd78e7692ebca600497708c285fd3d41b

I get a lot of use out of my [Elgato Stream Deck](https://www.elgato.com/us/en/s/stream-deck-app). It's one of the best hardware purchases I've made in a long time.

It didn't start that way.

Shortly after I bought it, I discovered that the device falls under the privacy policy of its parent company, Corsair. The policy reads like it was written by lawyers trying to cover every possible future use case.

According to the policy, potential data categories include:

* identity information (name, account ID, email)
* device identifiers and serial numbers
* IP address and network data
* usage data and clickstream behavior
* crash diagnostics and performance metrics
* location information
* audio/visual content uploaded through services
* inferred behavioral profiles based on collected data

That's a lot of potential data collection for what is essentially a programmable USB button panel.

The Stream Deck itself doesn't need the internet to do its core job. At its heart, it's a USB device that sends keyboard shortcuts, launches apps, and runs scripts. None of that requires a network connection.

However, the official Elgato software integrates a plugin marketplace and update system. Plugins can call APIs, communicate with remote servers, and run Node.js components. That's where the network traffic starts.

# The Practical Privacy Fix

The simplest solution is to block the Stream Deck software from accessing the internet.

A Mac firewall utility like [Radio Silence, Lulu or Little Snitch](https://appaddict.app/post/mac-firewall-apps) can block outbound connections for:

* `Stream Deck.app`
* `com.elgato.StreamDeck`

Once that's done, the device works exactly the same for local automation.

Two additional precautions:

* Avoid marketplace plugins
* Consider replacing the official software with [**BetterTouchTool**](https://appaddict.app/post/better-touch-tool-favorite), which can control the Stream Deck directly

With that out of the way, you can focus on what the hardware is actually good at: triggering useful automation.

Here are the ways I use mine.

# How I Actually Use My Stream Deck

# Buttons that create new things

One press creates a new working object in the app where I need it:

* email message
* text message
* [Things](https://appaddict.app/post/things-3-maybe-the-pinnacle-in-app-design) task
* calendar appointment
* [BBEdit](https://appaddict.app/post/bbedit-it-doesn-t-suck) document
* [Drafts](https://appaddict.app/post/drafts-pro-50-off-for-new-users) note
* [Obsidian](https://obsidian.amerpie.lol/) note
* [Dropover](https://appaddict.app/post/dropover-best-in-class) shelf
* Apple [Shortcuts](https://appaddict.app/post/enhance-apple-shortcuts-with-these-apps)
* [Keyboard Maestro](https://appaddict.app/post/keyboard-maestro-the-app-that-makes-everything-better-tips-for-the-for-the-automation-curious) macros
* new Finder window

This removes the friction of navigating menus or remembering shortcuts.

# Window layouts

One tap moves the current window to a specific layout:

* left half
* right half
* top half
* bottom half
* full screen
* quadrant layouts

It's faster than dragging windows or remembering a dozen keyboard shortcuts.

# Morning checklist

One page of buttons is dedicated to my daily startup routine.

Each button jumps directly to the next task:

* email
* messages
* social feeds
* backups
* updates
* Obsidian daily note

It sounds simple, but it prevents the usual morning "where should I start?" drift.

# System and shell scripts

The Stream Deck is also a convenient launcher for scripts I run regularly:

* [Topgrade](https://appaddict.app/post/topgrade-upgrade-all-the-things) updates
* SSH into machines in my home lab
* [Homebrew backup](https://appaddict.app/post/automate-your-homebrew-backups-and-easily-reinstall-your-mac-apps)
* restart Finder
* mount network drives
* move downloaded media to backup

locations

For repetitive maintenance tasks, a physical button beats digging around in Terminal history.

# Clipboard tools

Several buttons interact with the clipboard:

* convert text to title case
* lower case
* upper case
* open Raycast clipboard history
* display clipboard contents onscreen
* create a Markdown link from the current URL

These are tiny actions that happen constantly during writing.

# Quick links

I keep a page of buttons for frequently visited sites and tools.

Another page opens my favorite YouTube channels directly in the external viewer I use instead of the browser.

# Screenshot tools

The Stream Deck is also a control surface for [**CleanShot X**](https://appaddict.app/post/cleanshot-x):

* region capture
* window capture
* OCR
* scrolling capture
* screen recording
* open screenshot history

This turns screenshot workflows into one-tap actions.

# Spaces navigation

Dedicated buttons jump directly to specific macOS Spaces.

That's faster than swiping or using Mission Control when switching between focused workspaces.

# System control panel

One page acts as a control menu for system actions:

* quit all apps
* Mission Control
* toggle desktop widgets
* screen share to other Macs on my network
* [Raycast](https://appaddict.app/post/how-to-get-the-most-from-raycast) "Kill Extension"
* log out
* restart

Think of it as a customizable hardware control panel for macOS.

# The iOS Companion

I also use the [Stream Deck iOS app.](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/elgato-stream-deck-mobile/id1440014184)

It's subscription-based, but it gives me a second Stream Deck surface on an iPhone or iPad. That's useful when the physical device is already full or when I want a secondary control panel on another screen. You have to own a physical Stream Deck in order to use it.

For something that started out looking like an overengineered YouTuber gadget, the Stream Deck has quietly become one of the most practical automation tools on my desk.

https://redd.it/1rp1xwk
@macappsbackup

Deskeen 2.1 - The first major update for Deskeen 2
https://youtu.be/Q4WCQKqfXnY

https://redd.it/1rp2s6o
@macappsbackup

ClipDoc - macOS 26 clipboard manager feels like part of the OS

https://redd.it/1rr3pzy
@macappsbackup

Apple On-Device OpenAI - API

Giving something back, to the community who gave so much already to me.

https://github.com/gety-ai/apple-on-device-openai

"A SwiftUI application that creates an OpenAI-compatible API server using Apple's on-device Foundation Models. This allows you to use Apple Intelligence models locally through familiar OpenAI API endpoints."

Was searching for it recently, works perfectly, easy, quick. Silicon AI as a server so you can use your mac if you need an API key. Fits my (my!) needs smoothly.
I'm happy and wanted to share.

I'm not related to Gety.
This is a post here and r/MacOSApps (thank you both!)

https://redd.it/1rr8hj2
@macappsbackup

Dear Developers, I'm here to give you feedback on your app.

It's pretty obvious to me that there are lots of people building things that need feedback but not enough feedback going around. I'd like to take some time tomorrow and the next day to review some of your apps and provide feedback. Send me some links.

15 years as a dev, so I'll hopefully be able to give some useful feedback. I'm working on a screen recording tool (yes mine is special and different), so I'll use that to record my first impressions and leave a video link as a reply to your comment.

If it's a paid tool, please DM me, or I'll just have to stop at the landing page.

https://redd.it/1rrk7jf
@macappsbackup

Sonexis - Drag-and-drop real-time system-wide audio effects for your Mac

https://redd.it/1rrkdsw
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[OS] I made a free, open-source alternative to Screen Studio that adds auto-zooms, cursor animations and more

https://redd.it/1rrmoa7
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[macOS] Usage4Claude v2.5 - Built-in Browser Login for Claude Usage Monitoring

https://redd.it/1rrngcb
@macappsbackup

[macOS] Chunk v2 - Menubar Time-Blocking

https://redd.it/1rrpg0h
@macappsbackup

MacOSLifetime devPad - Slide-out dev panel with split browser, code editor, local/cloud AI chat, and 14 developer tools built in. Update

I want to thank this community firstly - So many people had valuable feedback, many of which I am still working through careful implementation of. This biggest complaint, which annoyed me too but I was too deep in to realize, is accidental triggering of the panel by touching anywhere on the side its docked. We fixed it and then some.

Problem: Developers constantly context-switch between browsers, terminals, API clients, and docs. Dedicated tools like Postman and standalone browsers add clutter.

Compare: SlidePad ($20, not on the App Store) is a slide-over browser - that's it. No code editor, no AI chat, no dev tools, no snippets. devPad gives you a full WebKit browser, code editor with 150+ language syntax highlighting, local AI chat (Ollama/LM Studio/OpenAI/Anthropic), API client with Postman import, console + network inspectors, SQLite browser, and 14 data tools - for $7.99, one-time, App Store sandboxed. I will likely have to raise the price soon due to development and web hosting costs.

New in this update: You can now choose how devPad reveals - full edge trigger, a small draggable pill, or keyboard-only. No more accidental triggers in full-screen apps.

Other highlights:

Snippets & Notes - save code, AI responses, anything. Tagged, searchable, rendered

N-Pane layout - split into up to 4 panes, save as workspaces, and undocked, full app window mode

25+ themes + Theme Studio to build your own

100% local, zero telemetry, no accounts, no data selling


What do you want to see next? We added Mermaid diagrams to Nabu Pro after this community asked for it - happy to hear what would make devPad more useful for your workflow.

Pricing: $7.99 lifetime - Mac App Store) | Bundle with Nabu Pro \(Markdown Editor\) + Anubis \(LLM Benchmarker\): $12.99

Screenshots

Store Page

Product Site

Guide \(it helps I promise\)

Changelog: App Store Version History (Edge tab, multiple bug fixes, new startup tour and default settings interactive guide)

AI Disclaimer: Code Completion

The app is hard to describe, but supports many workflows. Happy to answer questions

https://redd.it/1rreti1
@macappsbackup

macOS (universal): Speaklone- Professional text to speech and voice cloning, fast and local on Apple Silicon with MLX

https://redd.it/1rrrp4h
@macappsbackup

Looking for Typinator 10 alternatives, with a specific requirement...

OK, so I'm on Typinator 9. I love how I can add variables and interactive inputs to expansions, but I'm very uncomfortable with their upgrade pricing, and I hate subscriptions with a passion.

I've seen several other text expansion apps mentioned on Reddit, but do any of them enable variables and interactive inputs?

TIA.

https://redd.it/1rrs3o0
@macappsbackup

[first MacOs app, me nervous] Dropadoo - does exactly one thing and it does it perfectly.

https://redd.it/1rrw9hf
@macappsbackup

Setapp - Is it worth it as a student?

I discovered that with StudentAppCentre I can get 20 percent off Setapp. If I get the monthly subscription, it will roughly equate to 9.5 dollars.
Apps that I would primarily use that are in the Setapp collection are CleanShot X, Bartender, Supercharge, BetterTouchTool, BetterDisplay, PopClip, ToothFairy, AlDente and especially Spark Mail. I use the free version of Spark as my main mail client.
And those are only the apps that I would most definitely use on a (very) regular basis. It could very well be that I discover interesting apps that are on Setapp.

Is there any catch that I am missing? I know that I don't technically own the apps through Setapp and that after some time I would have exceeded the total cost of all those apps by a lot, but as a student I can't really splurge money for lifetime licenses for all those apps at once.

Is anyone else here using Setapp on Mac and could share their usecases /experience?

Thank you very much in advance

https://redd.it/1rrwtgp
@macappsbackup